Rail-joint.



W. J. DAVIS, C. S; MELROSE & F. M. FISHER.

RAIL JOINT.

APPLICATION FILED N0v.25, I914.

Patented Aug. 24, 1915.

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RAIL JOINT. APPLICATION FILED NOV,25, I914.

Patented Aug. 24, 1915.

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WILLIAM J. DAVIS, CHARLES S. MELROSE, AND FREDRICK M. FISHER, DIEWINIDFAL L,

INDIANA.

RAIL JoINT.

Application filed. November 25, 1914.

To all who 1n it may concern Be it known that we, WILLIAM J. DAVIS,Gi-mntns S. Mntnosn, and Fnnnnrox M. FISHER, citizens of the UnitedStates, residing at Windfall, in the county of Tipton and State ofIndiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inRail-Joints and we do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear,and exact description of the invention, such as will enable othersskilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

Our invention relates to improvements in devices for joining the ends ofrails and has for its primary object to provide a rail joint by means ofwhich the ends of rails may be secured in operative relation to oneanother without necessitating the employment of bolts or the boring ofholes in the ends of the rails.

Another object is to provide means of the character for joining the endsof rails which acts as a chair or sleeper for the rails and permits theforming of a smooth. and tight joint.

Another and more specific object is to provide arail joint device whichincludes rail supporting and wedge members arranged so as to cooperatewith the rails and so that they are held securely in proper relation toone another.

Another object is to generally improve and simplify the construction andoperation of rail joining devices sov asto strengthen the joints andpermit a quick setting up or taking down of tracks without materiallyincreasing the cost of manufacture of such devices.

The above and additional objects are accomplished by such means as areillustrated in the accompanying drawings, described in the followingspecification and then more particularly pointed out in the claims.

With reference to the drawings, wherein we have illustrated thepreferred embodiment of our invention as it is reduced to practice, andthroughout the several views of which similar reference numeralsdesignate corresponding parts, Figure 1 is a side elevation showing ourrail joint in use, Fig. 2 is a top plan view, Fig. 3 is a transversesectional view taken through our improved joint showing a rail position,Fig. l is a fragmentary detail perspective of one of the wedge members,and Fig. 5 is a fragmentary Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Au 24, 1915.

Serial No. 874,043.

detail perspective of the rail supporting member which is constructed tocooperate with the wedge members.

Referring to the drawings by characters of reference, 1 designates as anentirety an elongated flat metallic rail supporting plate that is to besecured by spikes or other fastening elements to the cross tie and tohave the bases of the rails resting upon the upper face thereof.Inwardly directed spike receiving notches are formed on opposite sidesof the plate 1.

Formed on the platel in pairs are flanges 3 and 1 at the ends of theplate. and flanges 5 midway between the ends of the plate. The flangesare spaced from one another and the ones 5 are considerably longer thanthe ones 3 and 4:. Each of the flanges extends upwardly at right anglesto the rail supporting plate for a distance equivalent to approximatelyone-third its height and is then directed upwardly and inwardly andformed on the upper edge of the upwardly and inwardly directed portionwith a laterally and inwardly extending extensiont. The extensions 6 areso spaced from one another as to be spaced from the webs of the railsmounted upon the plate 1. The flanges 3, iand 5 engage upon their innerfaces the sides of the bases of the rails so as to prevent any lateralplay of the rails.

VVe have provided in connection with each supporting plate 1 a pair ofrail engaging wedge plates 7. Each of the wedgemembers comprises arectangular preferably spring metal plate 8 that is curved or dished outlongitudinally as at 9 on the inner face thereof and at a pointcentrally of the longitudinal edges thereof, so as to formspaced railengaginglines as clearly shown in Fig. 3. Carried on the outer face ofeach plate 8 are outwardly extending spaced flanges 10 and 11 whichextend at right angles to the plate 8 and are provided with apertures 12therein. The apertures 12 register in pairs.

In assembling the joint the ends of the rails are placed upon oppositeends of the plate 1 and forced to engage one another with their basesbetween the flanges 3, 4:, and 5 on said plate 1. The wedge plates whichare curved upon their upper and lower edges as at 13 and 14 are insertedbetween the balls of the rails and the bases thereof. curved edge 13engages the under face of the ball of the rail and the curved face 14The - and so as'to engage the inner edgeso'f the engages the curvedupper face of the baseof the rail at the point where it is joined to theweb.

The flanges and 11 receive therebetween the extensions 6 whichextensions engage the outer faces of the plates 8 vof the members 7 Theapertures in the flangeslO and 11 are arranged to aline with one anotherand cotter pins or (other fastening elements 15 are inserted through thealined apertures extensions 6. The flanges 3, 4, and 5 con vergeslightly toward one end of the plate 1 and the wedge members 7 are of aslight wedge shape. These plates 8 of the membersx7- in being of springmetal effect a clamping action and it will be seen that the rails aresecurely held. In having the cotter With reference to the foregoingdescrip tion and'accompanying drawingsitwill be notedth'at we haveprovided a very effective and reliable rail joint and chair that willserve'to support and secure the ends of rails Y in a reliable mannerwithout necessitating the boring of holes in the ends of the rails orthe employment of bolts or other fastening elements; lhe boring of holesin the ends of rails often weakens them andmany wrecks have beenoccasioned because of the derangement of ra1l olnts and wlth our devicethe ends of. the rails may be very rigidly e and securely heldinoperativerelation and danger of derangement is obviated.

In practlce, we have found thatthe form of our inventlon, illustrated 1nthe drawings and referred to in'tlie above description, as the preferredembodiment, is the most eflicient and practical; yet realizing that theconditions concurrent with the adoption of our device willnecessarilyvary, we' desire any of the advantages of our invention, as

set forth.

I What is claimed is I 1. A rail joint consisting of a rail supportingplate, upstanding flanges carried by said plate and arranged in pairs atthe ends and center of the plate, said plate to receive the ends ofrails and the flanges to engage the side edges of the bases of therails, wedge plates, right angularly extending flanges carried by eachof the Wedge plates and bee 'ing spaced from one another, a rightangularly extended portion earned on the upper end of-each of theupstanding flanges and arranged to extend between the flanges on saidWedge plates, and cotter pins inserted through the flanges on said wedgeand lockingly engage the flanges of the supporting plate.-

2.. A rail joint consisting of a rail supporting plate, flanges carriedby said plate and arranged in pairs thereon and to engage the side edgesofthe bases of rails, relatively flat wedge plates, right angularlyextending flanges carried by each of the Wedge plates and being spacedfromone another, angularly directed portions carriedon the upper endsofthe first named flanges and arranged to extend between and engage theflanges on the, Wedge-plates and means to secure the wedge plates tosaid portions.

In testimony whereof we aflix our signaturesin' presence of twowitnesses;

WILLIAM J. Davis. CHARLES s. MELROSE. FRED. FISHER.

\Vitnesses:

B. 'F. TROUT, Oman 0. GUYMON.

Copies of this patent nlay be obtained for five centseach, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, I). G. I a

